Page 54 of Zane

The service was inspiring, the people friendly enough. She was greeted with enthusiasm and urged to come back. She refused the offer to stay back for refreshments and to get to know the members. She was not certain she was ready for that level of commitment.

Deciding that she could not bear to go back to the empty house where the memories would haunt her, she switched directions and went to the museum.

She parked in the crowded lot and just sat behind the wheel, her fingers drumming on it. She wasn't in the mood to view her usual art. The idea of strolling the different aisles and taking an interest in ancient history was not appealing to her. But if she went back home, she knew she was going to fall to pieces. Even sitting in the back pew at the church had disturbed her enough to make her want to cry.

She needed something else to take her mind off her troubles. Sniffing back the tears, she reached for her phone and called Abigail.

"I was just about to call you."

"Why?"

"My divorce is final. That lowlife piece of crap I made the mistake of tying myself to is out of my life for good, and I need someone to help me eat a gallon of rocky road ice cream and drink a bottle of the best champagne money can buy."

Kara smiled at that. "Are you sure you can afford the bottle?"

"Honey, he didn't get a cent. I had a shark of a lawyer. Come on over."

*****

"Have some more ice cream," Abigail urged.

"If I take another spoonful, I'm going to gag," Kara told her honestly. "I made a pig of myself."

"We're entitled to every now and again. And you look like a strong wind would blow you to the state of Texas. You're too skinny."

"I think the correct term is slender." Kara tried to sound dignified but spoiled it when she ended up giggling. The champagne had gone to her head.

"My ass." Abigail snorted.

They were inside her lovely blue and cream salon. Flowers scented the air from the various vases strewn around the room. The glass doors overlooked an arbor with clinging vines and more flowers. Kara knew her boss spent as much of her free time as she could kneeling in the dirt and tending to her garden. The effort was spectacular.

"Men," she continued, pouring some more champagne into both glasses and ignoring Kara's weak protest. "Can't kill them, and that's a pity. They're pigs, all of them."

"Not all." Kara was impaired enough to spill.

Abigail squinted at her myopically. "Huh? I suppose in your vast experience, you can tell me differently?"

"Yes." Automatically reaching for the glass, she took a sip and savored the texture on her tongue. "I was with someone the entire weekend, well, except for today. That's because I blew it."

Sitting up on the chair, Abigail gaped at her. "You were with William?"

"Did I say that?" Her lips curved slightly. "I told you I broke it off with him."

"And you found someone else that quickly? Honey, who the hell are you?"

"His name is Zane Stanhope." Kara waited for the reaction and wasn't disappointed.

"Zane Stanhope." Abigail forgot about the drink in her hand and simply stared. "How? When? I'm sorry, I really need details."

"I met him some time ago. You saw us at the function a few weeks ago-"

"And you said nothing happened."

"I lied. He took me out to the garden and kissed me."

"Good God! Zane 'bad boy' Stanhope. I've been hoping to get him to tumble me into bed. What?" she barked, noticing her friend's look. "He might be younger, but so the hell what? He's gorgeous. And all that aloof and bad boy image is highly appealing. So-" She fanned her hot cheeks. "I'm going to need to live vicariously through you. How good is he?"

"I'm not discussing sex with you."